Air drying device



June 20, 1933. c. R. DOWNS 1,914,941

AIR DRYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 1, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

1M 'ENTOR. 66 g 0?, QM

BY s f His ATTORXED June 20, 1933. c. R. DOWNS 1.

AIR DRYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 1, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I r I I I INVENTOR.

fi l- ATTORNEYS June 20, 1933. c. R. DOWNS AIR DRYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 1, 1931 4 Shasta-Sheet 3 III a a lll'lllll'll INVENTOR.

4 0 ATTORNEYS.

June 20, 1933. c. R. DOWNS AIR DRYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 1, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

BY M9 [42 I fl/s ATTORNEYS.

'One of the 0 Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES RAYMOND DOWNS, 0! OLD GBEENWICH, CONNECTICUT, ABSIGNOB TO WEI-B8 AND DOWNS. me, OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK am DRYING DEVICE Application fled December 1,1981. Berial No. 578,598.

This invention relates to a moisture absorbing device that is suitable for drying airin an enclosed ace to maintain conditions.

'ects of my inventlonis to provide a simple and inexpensive device constructed and adapted to contain such a material as to cause rapid and eflicient absorption of moisture within a food receptacle, cabinet, bin or the like. The device may be so constructed that it may be ship or stored for a long time and can be ma e to perform its dryi function after it is placed where desi By the present invention, moisture can be removed from materials thatwould be harmed thereb and the materials kept dry. These materials include, for example, foodstuil's such as cereals, potato chips, sugar, salted nuts, crackers, salt, self-us ng flours, tobacco, etc., which materials evidence an aflinity for moisture which destroys their value or taste. These materials also include articles that are liable to rust or be in ured in a damp or humid atmosphere, such as guns, leather, camera films, cloth, soap powders, etc. The moisture absorbing device may be used, forexample, in stores, restaurants, factories, dwelling houses, ships, museums,

laboratories, etc, wherever it is desired to keep things dry. Provision is made in its design whereby it may be used in existing receptacles for the absorption of moisture Within the latter,with the result that the food? stuffs-or other material contained within the receptacle are dried and kept dry so as to be always ready for consumption or use. However,I prefer to use it in conjunction with a food cabinet, container or other receptacle, especially designed that it forms a component part of a drying system.

To clearly understand'the principles of construction and operation of the moisture absorbing device and itsfunction as a component of a drying apparatus, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings. It is however understood that the construction and arrangement of parts shown in the drawings are for illustrative purposes only, since various modifications may be used without de- .cake of deli uescent material; 4, a

parting from the spirit and scope of the inven- Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through an illustrative embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a vertical section of a modifie. :1 form of cover from that shown 'in Figure 1. Figure 3 is the vertical section through the cover shown in Figure 4, which in turn is a vertical section through another modiiied form of the moisture absorbing device. Figures 5, 6, and 7 are vertical sections through still other modifications, illustrating my invention. Fi ms 8 and 9 are vertical sections illustrating the moisture absorbing device as a component of drying apparatuses.

In the drawings, reference character 1 indicates a moisture absorbing device 3 2, a cover for the device, said cover confimng an upper com artment; 3, an anchora e for a eli uescent materia 5, perforations in the wa l of the upper compartment; 6, rforations in cover, 2; 7, a partition; 8, a liquid collecting compartment; and 9, anopening in the partition, 7

I will now discuss the arran parts in the moisture absorbin their function. Referring to merit of evice, and igures 1 and 2, the reference character 4 re resents a cake of deliquescent material whic may be calcium chloride or other deliquescent material.

It is fastened into the cover, 2, by means of the spider or loops, 3, which ma be removable. The deliquescent materia 4, may be fused and cast into the cover, 2, with the loops or spiders in place, merely by inverting the cover, the latter to act as a mold during casting. It solidifies on cooling. The dehques'cent material may also be cast in a separate mold after which the solid cake is attached to the underside of the cover. Perforations, 5, are placed in the wall of the upper compartment below the lower surface of the deli uescent material, 4, so that the moisture la en air may circulate through this compartment. The moisture is then removed from the air when the latter contacts with the lower surface of the cake of deliquescent material. These perforations are closed during shipment and storage by any suitable removable means in addition to the arrangements shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, to be described later.

The moisture removed from the moist air is absorbed by the deliquescent material causing the latter to deliquesce. It then drips away and falls onto the horizontally placed partition, 7, which may be flat 1nverted, conical, or concave in section, and the said deliquesced material then flows toward the small opening or cluster of small openings, 9, to drain into the liquid collecting compartment, 8. The action and function of this opening in conjunction with the otherwise air-tight compartment, 8, are two-fold. First, under ordinary conditions of use there are appreciable changes in atmospheric temperature from perio to period during the day. When a slight amount of deliquesced material rests upon the partition, 7, covering the openin 9, any increase in temperature will expang the air in com artment, 8, whereby air bubbles escape tirough the llquld covering the opening, 9. On a subsequent decrease in temperature and consequent lowering of the air pressure in compartment, 8, some liquid will be drawn through the opening, 9. The volume of compartment, 8, must be at least equal to the volume of the completely deli uesced material but as a practical matter, prefer to have the volume of compartment, 8, considerabl larger in order to provide a large relative c iange 1n the volume of air confined therein per degree change in temperature. Secondly, the opening or a cluster of small openings, 9, centrally located, should be of relatively small area so as to prevent sudden spilling of the deliquesced material collected in compartment, 8, should the moisture absorbing device he accidentally tilted or momentarily upset. Spilling is prevented by the combination of the o mug of small area with an otherwise air-tight com- )artment, 8, in that the outside air pressure is made effective. \Vith calcium chloride, for example, openings each not exceedin an area of 0.05 sq. in. have been found suita le. In Figures 1 and 2, means, for example, a strip of adhesive t..pe, for closing the perforations, 5, in the wall of the upper compartment must be provided. However,'Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 pertain to a modification of my invention in which means for closing these rforations are shown as an integral part oi the moisture absorbing device. Figurts 3, 4. and 5 show the cover, 2, itself, provided with perforations, 6. During the use of the device, perforations, 6, coincide with perforations, 5, in the wall of the upper compartment. This position is shown in Figures 4 and 5. When the perforations, 6, of both the cover, 2, and the perforations, 5, in the wall of the upper compartment are in such coincidence, moist air can flow into the device. However, during shipment and storage, at which times molst air must be excluded, a fraction of a turn of the cover, 2, will cause the perforations, 5 and 6, to move from coincidence and cover the blank spaces between the perforations, thereby sealing the moisture absorbing device. The operation of the closure of the perforations as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5 require a cylindrical body for the moisture absorbing device but if it is desirable to employ some other shape as, for example, rectangular the moisture absorbing device shown in igures 6 and 7 may be used. In this modificatlon, the cover, 2, telescopes in a vertical manner into the remainder of the device and is guided b horizontal extensions, 17, slidin within t e slots, 18, or by a suitable bea and groove arrangement, so that when the-cover is in its uppermost position shown in Figure 6, perforations, 6, are exposed and 0 en, allowin moisture laden air to enter t e device. n the other hand, when the cover is in its lowermost position, as in Figure 7, the perforations, 6, are covered by a skirt extending above the lower compartment.

Figures 6 and 7 also illustrate another modification in cover design. The upper section of the cover is formed into a projecting hollow protuberance, preferably.in the form of a knob, 16, which indicates the top of the device and revents the user from setting the moisture a orbing device on the wrong end. In addition, this knob may be used or anchoring the cake of deli uescent material by casting the latter into t e knob when the main cake is formed.

Figures 6 and 7 also illustrate the means for attaching the moisture absorbin device within a cabinet. These means consist of an extension, 12, made to fit a ring, 13, which is fitted to an opening, 14, in the wall, 15, of a cabinet. This combination of elements permits easy attachment and detachment of the device and yet affords a strong and substantial method of holding the device in place during use and shi ment.

Figure 5 shows a modification of the moisture absorbing device, in which the liquid containing compartment, 8, is made of glass or synthetic resm material, preferabl transparent or translucent. In this modi cation,

, a gasket, 10, and a screw joint, 11, are used for fastening the bottom portion of the dryin device to the top ortlon.

ne of the many a vantages of my invention is that fresh surfaces of the deliquescent material are continuously exposed to the moisture laden air flowing into the upper compartment, due to the fact that the deliquesced material drains away immediately and is confined in the liquid collecting compartment, 8. This greatly increases the drying efliciency.

'Figure 8 shows the moisture absorbing device, 1, fixed in position in the bottom of a drying cabinet, 19, by means of a friction joint. This cabinet may be provided with the usual door or doors (not shown). Reference character 20 illustrates a perforated or wire screen shelf or plurality of shelves ,which must be foraminous or reticulated in order to provide adequate circulation of the atmosphere in the drying cabinet, 19. In the friction joint used for attaching the mo sture absorbing device to the floor of the cabinet and illustrated in Figure 6, the floor, 15, of the cabinet is cut away inside the ring, 13. When the deliquescent material in the moisture absorbing device has completely liquefied, the latter is detached from the ring, 13, and a new moisture absorbin device inserted, thereby closing up the ho e in the floor, 15. Instead of attaching the moisture absorbing device to the bottom of the cabinet 19, attachment may be made to any vertica wall, door or to the top by a suitable location of the attaching means on the moisture absorbing device and drying a paratus. In place of the friction joint met 0d of attachment as illustrated, other so arable attaching means may be employe The drying apfparatus, 19, may be a case, food cabinet, re rigerator or any other receptacle in which food or other articles to be dried or kept dry are laced.

is moisture absorbing device is also especially useful for maintainin table salt contained in salt cellers in a dry and readily pourable state even under the most humid atmospheric conditions. The ease with which salt deliquesces thereby preventin its sifting from cellers is well known an very a gravating. Figure 9 shows the moisture a sorbin evice as an inte ral part of a rece tac e to be used especial y for maintaining sa. t in a dry condition. In this figure, the

moisture absorbing 'device, 1, is held in a fixed position by the clam s, 21, attached to the bottom of the receptac e, 22. In the same fi re, reference character, 23, represents salt ce lers while 24 is a removable cover of the receptacle. When the cake of drying material in the moisture absorbing device is consumed it is only necessa to remove the latter and insert a fresh moisture absorbing device in the clamps.

The moisture absorbing device, and also the drying cabinet or apparatus, 19, may be made of sheet metal or other material, and in any desired form as, for example, they ma be circular, square, rectangular, etc.

aving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A moisture collecting device comprising a receptacle providing a compartment to receiv e collected moisture, a solid mass ofdcliquescent material, means for supporting the deliquescent material with its upper surface out of contact with air and its lower surface exposed above the compartment,the rece tacle having an openin communicating wit the lower surface of tfie solid deli uesccnt material ermitting accessof air rom the surroun ing atmosphere, and a horizontall disposed diaphragm spaced below the deli uescent material forming the up er boun ary of the com Jartment said dia ragm having a passa e t rough which liquid accumulating on the iaphragm may pass, said passa e being sufliciently small so that the liquid in said compartment is removed from contact with the air to be dried and said passage bemg too small for the liquid to run out when the device is turned upside down.

2. A moisture collecting device comprising a receptacle providing a com artment to receive collecte moisture, a soli mass of deli uescent material, means for supporting the eliquescent material with its lower surface exposed above the compartment, the receptacle having an opening communicating with the lower surface 0 the solid deliquescent material permitting access of air from the surrounding atmosphere, and a horizontally disposed diaphragm below the deliquescent material forming the upper boundary of the compartment, said diaphragm having a passage through which liquid accumulating on the diaphragm may pass, the sup.-

orting means for the deliquescent material eing adjustably mounted on the receptacle and movable to close the opening therein.

3. A moisture collecting device comprising a receptacle providing a com artment to receive collected moisture, a so 'd mass of calcium chloride, means for supporting the calcium chloride with its lower surface exosed above the compartment, the receptacle aving an opening communicating with the lower surface of the solid calcium chloride rmitting access of air m the surroundmg atmosphere,'and a horizontally disposed diaphragm below the calcium chloride orming the upper boundary of the compartment, said diaphragm having a passagle through which liquid accumulating on the iaphragm may pass, the su porting means for the calcium chloride being'ad'ustably mounted on the receptacle and mova le to close the opening therein.

4. A moisture collecting device comprising a receptacle providing a com artment to receive collected moisture, a solid mm of deliquescent material, means for supporting the deliquescent material with its upper surface out of contact with air and its lower surface exposed above the compartment, the receptacle having an opening communicating with the lower surface of the solid deliquescent material permitting access of air from the surround atmosphere, and a horizontally disposed diaphragm spaced below the deliquescent material forming the up boundary of the compartment, said g dphmgm Ill having a assa which is too small for liquid to ass t eret rough by avity alone but which is sufliciently large or liquid to pass into said compartment by the thermal breathing of the air contained therein.

5. A moisture collecting device comprising a receptacle providing a com artment to receive collected moisture, a so id mass of cal cium chloride, means for supporting the calcium chloride with its upper surface out of contact with and its lower surface exposed above the compartment, the receptacle having an opening communicating with the lower surface of the solid calcium chloride ermitting access of air from the surroun ing atmosphere, and a horizontally disposed diaphragm spaced below the calcium chloride forming the upper boundary of the compartment, said diaphragm having a passage through which the liquid accumulating on the diaphragm may drain, said passage being too small for liquid calcium chloride to pass therethrough by gravity alone but which is sufliciently large or liquefied calcium chloride to pass into said compartment by the thermal breathing of the air contained therein.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES RAYMOND DOWNS.

CERTIFICATE or CORREGTI-ON.

Patent No. 1,914,941. June 20 1933 CHARLES RAYMOND DOWNS.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: 5, after "with" insert "air"; and that the said this correction therein that the the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of August, A. D. 1933.

same may conform to the record of the case in ".Llloore.

(Seal) Acting Commiaaioner of Patenta.

Page 4, line 1], claim Letters Patent should he read with having a assa which is too small for liquid to ass t eret rough by avity alone but which is sufliciently large or liquid to pass into said compartment by the thermal breathing of the air contained therein.

5. A moisture collecting device comprising a receptacle providing a com artment to receive collected moisture, a so id mass of cal cium chloride, means for supporting the calcium chloride with its upper surface out of contact with and its lower surface exposed above the compartment, the receptacle having an opening communicating with the lower surface of the solid calcium chloride ermitting access of air from the surroun ing atmosphere, and a horizontally disposed diaphragm spaced below the calcium chloride forming the upper boundary of the compartment, said diaphragm having a passage through which the liquid accumulating on the diaphragm may drain, said passage being too small for liquid calcium chloride to pass therethrough by gravity alone but which is sufliciently large or liquefied calcium chloride to pass into said compartment by the thermal breathing of the air contained therein.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES RAYMOND DOWNS.

CERTIFICATE or CORREGTI-ON.

Patent No. 1,914,941. June 20 1933 CHARLES RAYMOND DOWNS.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: 5, after "with" insert "air"; and that the said this correction therein that the the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of August, A. D. 1933.

same may conform to the record of the case in ".Llloore.

(Seal) Acting Commiaaioner of Patenta.

Page 4, line 1], claim Letters Patent should he read with 

